Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-10
LAND OF BIG GAME.

After IN encampment Of the two weeks
at Bangalore we moved to the northwest
for thirty miles, and made n new camp on
creek which cmptied into the Cauvery
river, twenty miles below IA. There had
been no shooting done IN this neighbor-
hood for many years, for the reason that
fever plague had carried Off hundreds Of
the natives and depopulatod many of the
villages. Game had had opportunity to
Increase and we had reason TO LOOK for
ward to some exciting sport y native
hunter, living near Serngapatan, and
who was with US in charge OF the SER
wants, had been told by good authority
that lions and tigers had como int
the abandoned district until they were as
plentiful as hares, and that we should find
a hunters paradise.
We pitched our camp on n cleared spot
on the right bank of the creek, which had
two feet Of water in il and was about ten
feet wide. II was a hilly country all
about us, with the ground fairly well
timbered. Half a mile below ia was
an abandoned native village, and many
acres Of ground which had once been
titled were now grown up TO bush and
weeds. We went into camp about an
hour before shutdown.
The next day was ushcred in with
drilling rain, and it was early decided
not TO have any general beat up for game,
but to overhaul arms and trappings and
make ready for next day. Soon after
breakfast | took my repeating rifle and
navy revolver, slipped some extra car
tridgcs into my pocket, and set ont alone
10 have look at the deserted village be
low us.
AZ warn you to be careful, sir, eau
Il, 4
the spot on which he was monding n
saddle.
"Oh, have no fear, and tho wild
beasts win be asleep this morning, any
how"
= Some may not, he answered, with
dubious shake Of the head, and he was
looking after me as / entered the btsh.
had forgotten to say that during the
night we were greatly disturbed by the
nCfses~around us We kept several large
fires &ing and while these prevented
marauding beasts from coming too near,
the glare probably attracted them 10 the
locality. One could distinguish the spit Of
the panther. the snarl Of the tiger and the
voice of the lion; and added to these were
the howl of the wolf, the chatter Of tho
hyena and the yclp of the jackal Truly,
we had struck rich find Driven out
of the other districts, the beast creation
had made their way to this, and the sound
of hunters rifle had not been heard here
for years.
l had not gone quarter Of mile from
camp when n large black snake ran Kissing
away from my feet, and | heard a wild
beast of some sort making its way in the
thicket These were proofs that | could
not be over prudent, and thereafter | kept
my eyes about me and my rifle ready for
instant service. The village was strung
along the creek for half mile, but the
fist hut / came to was an inclosure that
had been used for a council house. The
four walls were of Adobe, while tho roof
was matched. There were really but
three walls, one end being left open excep,
q slight return Of each side wall. This
open space was at least twenty feet across,
while there was room enough inside for
400 people to sit or stand. The open end
looked back in the direction ! had come,
and twenty feet away was the beginning
of o wall which extended for about 300
feet. 1t was about four feet high, made
OF adobe, and | could not make out for
what purpose it had been erected. II an
enemy had been expected to approach
from east or west this wall would have
been a Nlod breastwork. although its left
flank could have easily been turned.
4
ming the interior of the building and then
walked to the further end of il. There
were couple Of whtcned skulls on the
ground. and ] gave one Of them kick.
As / did 20 an insect or reptile OF some
sort issued forth with great swiftness and
stung or bit me on the left wrist Its
movements were SO rapid that could not
! say whether IL few or sprang at me.
! simply caught n glimpse or two Of dark,
I hairy object, and then felt the pain, which
was rs severe as if / had been touched
with q red hot iron. | carried an antdote
for insect and reptile poisoning. Near the
great doorway was a block Of wood and
went to it, pulled off my coat, pushed mp
my sleeve and examined the wound
There was but one puncturc, but ii had
drawn blood, and the flesh was rapidly
reddening. l brought my arm up and
sucked away at the wound for two or three
minutes, and then applied the antidote
and wrapped bandage about it, ! must
have drawn all the poison out, but never
theless ! soon found myself rs weak
rs n babe and my head seemed four
times too large for my body. Indeed
| was afraid TO stand up for fear that
my body would not support the
head This feeling began TO 90 away in
about fifteen minutes, and ! was just con-
graduating myself on my lucky escape
when turned my eyes TO the north, or to-
ward camp. The sight thrilled me like
an electric shock. Close beside the wall
on the left hand side, was n tiger, a rous-
ing big fellow. who had seen fifteen years
of life. On the right hand side, and also
close TO the base Of the wall, was medium
,..cl male lion, and the attitude Of both
plai.... showed that thcy had been stalk
ING me. IL was n .till hunt, and was
the victim. The lion had come ont Of the
bush to the right aud the tiger had come
out OF "a thckot To the left. and crossed the